The Red Cotton Tree

I recently picked up some lovely red cotton tree flowers.



Here in Thailand they are much darker and richer in colour than the ones that I am used to seeing in Southern China.  If I recall correctly it is the emblem flower of Guangdong.

Anyway I went to check it out on wikipedia and found this quote.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombax_ceiba

"This tree is referred in the Sikh Scriptural enlightener, Guru Granth Sahib as follows: The semal tree is straight as an arrow; it is very tall, and very thick. But those birds which visit it hopefully, depart disappointed. Its fruits are tasteless, its flowers are nauseating, and its leaves are useless."

As a firm believer in permaculture, I find it hard to believe that any species is completely tasteless, nauseating and useless.

I have heard that the flowers can be used for soup and a refreshing drink, but do not much more than that.  Can anybody shed any more light on this beautiful plant?

in the caribbean its known as sorel the petals are plucked and boiled with sugar and fresh ginger then cooled in the pot and strained through a cloth, high in vitamin C and a Jamaican Christmas Tradition. served over ice with a measure of white rum. delicious

The Caribbean 'sorel' might be 'roselle' - a hibiscus that makes the delicious drink that Keif described.  I recently obtained the seeds and hope go grow it next summer in my cooler climate